Ron admitted at a news conference: ''You can't hide from these issues,
and we are not going to.''

In a statement, Diageo said Johnnie Walker would also 'tackle the
issue' by spending £2m every year 'on responsible drinking programs.'

'We're fifth best' - Grove
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) Williams' new FW27 may be only the fifth best F1
challenger at the Australian grand prix, the team co-owner admitted.

At a media lunch, Sir Frank said McLaren and Renault lead the way for
2005, with Ferrari and BAR also set to be 'serious players.'

The problem, according to engineering director and Williams' team
partner Patrick Head? A 'discrepancy' between the scale wind tunnel
'model' and the actual car.

''Without overplaying it too much,'' he added, ''we're now going
through a process of understanding exactly why that (occurred).''

Head said one of the most frustrated men at Grove is new Australian
recruit Mark Webber. ''(And) he's not disguising his disappointment,''
the Briton - revealing an aero and downforce deficit - smiled dryly.

We reported on Monday that the unit, to be fitted to both Red Bull and
Minardi's (2005) grand prix challenger, is a mighty 50bhp stronger -
910 horse power - than in 2004, despite the longer life regulation.

''Yes,'' head of development Alex Hitzinger told Autosport, ''(and)
there is more to come in the middle of the season.''

''I behaved in good faith,'' he complained on the 'Italiaracing'
website, ''(but) let (Maldonado) be nicked from me.''

Last November, 19-year-old Maldonado made his F1 debut in a Minardi at
Misano. Gian Carlo Minardi, at the time, hinted that a youngster at
the circuit has 'a future' on the F1 grid.

Now, though, Pastor's in Renault's 'driver development program.'

F1's 'lonely' - rookie
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) Formula One is a bit of a 'lonely' world,
India's first ever Indian driver admitted this week.

Narain Karthikeyan told Indian media group IEG that every waking
moment is calculated 'to the last minute' by grand prix employer
Jordan.

''Coping is not a problem,'' said the former F3 and World Nissan star,
''it's just a totally different ball game.''

The 28-year-old said life had become a constant routine of travel,
testing and sporadic respite.

And he added: ''It's also kind of lonely -- it gets tough with (all)
the thought.''

'DC, grow a beard'
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) For the first time in more than a decade, F1
veteran David Coulthard - in the winter pre-season - grew a tatty
beard.

Why?

Because Red Bull Racing team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, apparently,
told him he could.

The Austrian energy drink billionaire admitted: ''I took David to one
side (at a recent test) and told him, 'in our team you don't have to
shave every day'.''

Not only did marketing-savvy Red Bull impose a beard-if-you-like
policy; out went old school (Jaguar) management duo Dave Pitchforth
and Tony Purnell, and enter Christian Horner, the 31-year-old novice.

Williams' Webber in wind
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) Williams' Mark Webber proved the FW27 should not
be written off by topping the test time sheet at Valencia (Spain).

On Tuesday, the Australian also demonstrated Grove's notable
reliability as he fended off the Schumacher brothers' Toyota and
Ferrari challenge, scarlet man Rubens Barrichello, and the BAR of
Takuma Sato.

''It really was too windy to do much work this afternoon,'' said
Williams' manager Tim Newton.

A logo will be displayed on the black Minardi car's rear wing end
fence, and Dutchman Albers' overall.

Nu.nl is owned by ilse media bv.

''We already had a good relationship with (ilse),'' Laren-born
Christijan said, ''and it is great news that nu.nl decided to support
me.''

McLaren 'ready to roll'
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) McLaren is in good shape heading into the first
grand prix of 2005, 'Friday' driver Pedro de la Rosa said.

The Spaniard, who'll pilot the spare MP4-20 in free practice, was
'surprised' when he first took to the wheel of the new
Mercedes-powered car.

''It's so easy to drive,'' he grinned, ''and that's not often the case
with a new car.''

Woking-based McLaren is marked out as probably the most likely Ferrari
challenger this season, although Renault is proving a near match.

de la Rosa remarked: ''We are being careful. Let's see.

''Let's say we are ready to go now.''

Max's the catch - Grove
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) Williams' take on the GPWC-Concorde row became
clearer at Tuesday's media lunch -- FIA head Max Mosley is the
problem.

Engineering chief and team co-owner Patrick Head called the Briton's
style 'autocratic,' with a tendency to deride anyone who's
non-compliant.

He said improperly imposed rules, like the two-race engine regulation,
have got the collective (albeit non-Ferrari) pitlane saying 'enough is
enough.'

''They don't believe (Max) ... is a safe pair of hands (anymore).''

Sir Frank, meanwhile, speculated that Mosley would like to drive the
manufacturers out of F1, and claimed that everyone is 'pissed off'
with the exclusive commercial deal made with Ferrari and the FIA.

Russian race removed
(GMMF1.NET -- Feb.23) A planned Russian round of the German touring
car (DTM) championship has been called off.

It's understood that the street race, to be held in Moscow in June,
will now be delayed until mid-2006, because organizers could not have
prepared the circuit in time.

Brno (Czech Republic) will step in to fill the void.

''Safety is priority number one,'' said DTM chief Hans Werner
Aufrecht, ''therefore we won't make any compromises.''

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